(A/N). Hello there. Welcome back to my Prisoner fan fic. As always, allow me to start by saying thank you for the continued support. I'm sorry about the delays, but I'm working again now and don't have as much free time on my hands.

Right then, on with the chapter!

Number Six was awakened by the sound of a creaking chair. Before he could even open his eyes, however, he was struck by a feeling of wooziness. Instantly he felt a change, and this change rocked him. His thoughts were once more his own. It was a pleasant feeling, there was no denying that... Finally paying notice to the sound of the creaking chair, Number Six opened his eyes and observed an old woman rocking up and down on a chair at the end of his bed... His eyes darting around the room, the Prisoner observed that he was once again in the Village hospital.

"Welcome back, son." The old woman smiled slightly before slowly getting to her feet.

Number Six was suddenly struck by an intense feeling of deja vu. He tried to put meaning to this feeling, before suddenly recalling his first day in the Village. And even though it felt like an age ago, he clearly remembered seeing this old woman before, right here, in the hospital, right after his first encounter with Rover...

"You rest, son." The woman began to walk towards the open door.

Before she spoke her next words, Number Six heard them in his mind, anticipating them with ease.

"I'll just tell the doctor you're awake." And with that the woman exited the room, leaving a slightly shaken Number Six alone...

Within mere seconds Number Six's mind began to steady, and all the events of the past few days came crashing back. From manipulations to tampering, from the death of a friend to a betrayal and a doomed escape attempt. Naturally, all these recollections were extremely unpleasant to him... And then a single face appeared in his mind's eye... "Gwen," he whispered the name of the current Number Two, as the memory of her bursting into his cottage when he was alone with Charlotte returned... He had been so very, very close to breaking. If not for her foolish intervention then perhaps he would have...no. No. He could not contemplate breaking. Not now. Not ever. Not after all he had endured. He would have resisted, regardless of Gwen's interruption... But like a nagging prod in the turning, grinding wheels of his mind, Number Six suddenly returned to his previous thought... Had it been a foolish intervention on Gwen's part? Or a cold, calculated one?... But why? Why risk ruining everything in that moment?... Unwilling to surrender to these thoughts, Number Six staggered to his feet, intending to leave the hospital immediately... But then a familiar voice could be heard, startling him in his tracks.

"I'm glad to see you're up and about again."

Number Six spun around and met Number Five's gaze, blinking rapidly as though still trying to focus.

"Whole and...intact." She smiled with that playful gleam in her eyes once more.

Tugging slightly at his pyjama top, Number Six slowly sat back down on the bed... "To what do I owe the displeasure?"

"Oh come come." She sighed. "Aren't you a little tired of playing all these games?"

Number Six couldn't help but give a wry smile, wondering how she had the gall to direct that question at him instead of at herself and the Village...

Observing the stoic gaze in his eyes as he stared blankly ahead, Number Five assumed her regular, playful persona once more. "Well, despite your extremely naughty behaviour in trying to escape-... I mean, really? You should know better by now. But regardless of that, the doctors here have a duty to take care of you and...well, to maintain your well being."

"My well being?" Number Six felt anger rising within him. "My well being!?"... Refusing to play this game, he got to his feet once more. "I'm leaving."

"Not just yet."

"You won't stop me."

Glancing behind her, Number Five gave a small nod of her head before looking back towards Number Six. "Oh, not I." Taking a step forward she entered the room, revealing Number Two walking up behind her.

Feeling stronger and more resolved at the mere sight of her, Number Six straightened his posture and took a deep breath...

"That will be all, Number Five." Gwen looked to the floor, refusing to look at Number Six just yet.

"Yes, Number Two."

As Number Five walked past her, Number Two uttered her name in a barely audible breath. "Linda?"

Number Five stopped for a mere moment as she entered the hallway.

Number Two looked at Number Five with almost pleading eyes.

Only responding with a small, extremely subtle nod of her head, Linda walked away and down the hall, brushing past a nearby doctor, as the young, blonde haired woman approached the room.

"Number Two?" The young doctor looked slightly startled on seeing her.

"Yes?"

"I'm...just here to run some routine tests on Number Six."

"That won't be necessary!" Number Six chimed in.

The doctor began to respond. "Well-"

"Yes, of course." Number Two jumped in as she looked back at the doctor... "Just give us a brief moment."

The doctor was silent for a few seconds before merely nodding her head and walking away, looking over her shoulder and at the door as it closed. Small, yet dangerous suspicions beginning to whir in her mind...

Inside the small, private room, Gwen finally met Number Six's gaze... Unfortunately, however, she seemed to have lost her voice, unable to find the right words (or any words at all for that matter) upon seeing him. She wanted desperately to speak aloud her true thoughts...but she knew that wasn't possible. She knew they were listening, just as she knew that time for her was rapidly running out... Finally, she settled on speaking almost mundane words. "How are you feeling?"

Number Six turned away before looking up at the lightbulb hanging above his head. In his mind's eye he saw a flash of the pulsating light hanging above his own bed in the cottage. Suddenly, the bright light morphed into the shape of Rover, its roar piercing him like a finely sharpened blade. Number Six reacted to this by flinching strongly, slightly startling Number Two in the process.

"I-" she began.

"Why are you here!?" Number Six demanded as he turned to face her.

"To talk," she responded quickly... "And to hear whatever it is you have to say to me."

"I have nothing to say to you." His tone was cold and without feeling. "I'm no longer under your...spell." Despite stating these words with great intent, in his heart he still felt somewhat vulnerable in her presence. This both angered and annoyed him, and he immediately directed it against her... "You failed."

"I know." Gwen cast her gaze to the floor.

"But your game has extracted a high price," he continued. "Tell me...is this where he died?"

Letting out a sigh, Number Two began to slowly pace up and down the small room.

"Is this the very same room where Charlotte...murdered her own father?"

Once again, Gwen found herself lacking a voice. It was as though that without her conviction she could not defend herself, nor the Village. But she couldn't let them know that. There was too much at stake now. So mustering all the strength she had, Number Two hardened her gaze as she looked directly at Number Six... "He chose his own fate. Surely you already knew that?"

"He was trying to protect his daughter!" Six raged. "The daughter who betrayed him!"

"You know the rules of the game, Number Six," she replied coldly. "After all, you've been playing it long enough. His death and the deaths of his conspirators were a necessary loss."

"To make me protect and care for Charlotte?"

"Yes."

Number Six gave a small nod of his head, realising that his pesky trait of compassion had been his undoing once more. "And Number Seventeen?" His thoughts turned to the dead man who Charlotte had killed on the beach. "Was he willing to go so far as to give his life for your cause?"

"He was a useful fool." Gwen confirmed Number Six's true suspicions. "We manipulated him step by step. And yes, even into attacking Charlotte... But he's not worth your pity. He was just as reprehensible as the rest of us."

Feeling that there was now nothing more to be said, Number Six closed his eyes for a moment before looking towards the nearby window... "So that's it, then? The game has been played out? And you, Number Two...must answer for your failure, yes?"

"Yes." She confirmed with a solemn nod... "A failure I brought on myself." Realising those words she'd uttered were a mistake, she looked around anxiously, as though waiting for something to happen...

Desperately needing an answer as to why Gwen had sabotaged her own operation by bursting in on him and Charlotte, Number Six asked a question in a whisper... "Why?"

Unable to stop her heart from speaking the truth, Gwen answered. "I couldn't let her...hurt you any longer."

Number Six felt that unusual feeling again. A feeling of vague, unusual trust and desire. Even now that he had returned to his old self, and all want and need for sexual desire were but a bad memory, he still felt himself drawn towards her. He'd thought himself a fool for ever daring to believe that she was different just a few moments ago. But again, here and now...he found himself believing that foolish dream once again... But could he? Could he afford to even entertain it?

On realising that she'd given far too much away, Gwen stammered. "I-I mean...I thought Charlotte was going too far. I couldn't allow her to...permanently damage you, could I?" As she took a small step towards him, Gwen found herself becoming lost in his eyes... "How could I?" she whispered, just wanting this awful nightmare to end. She just wanted to console him and put aside all thoughts of the Village, along with her own pesky ego that also kept getting in the way...

Opening his mouth as if to say something, Number Six was suddenly interrupted...as the light in the room went out (along with all the lights in the rest of the hospital as well). Looking up slightly in confusion for a moment, Number Six was startled to see that Gwen had now closed the space between them, as she stood directly in front of him.

"We don't have much time so listen," Gwen began to speak.

"I take it this is some of Number Five's work?"

"Yes," she confirmed.

"And now I'm supposed to trust you again? I'm supposed to melt and fall into your arms or something, eh?" His tone was playful...but the look in his eyes betrayed a glimpse of hope.

"Look, we have less than a minute before power is restored and they'll be able to hear us again," Gwen explained. "So I suggest you take what I have to say seriously."

Number Six gave a small nod of his head. "Go on."

"You were right in what you said. I must answer for my failure... It's only a matter of time before I'm removed. And considering that I jeopardised the operation myself I think I'll be removed on a more...permanent basis, if you catch my drift?"

"Give me one good reason why I should care?"

"Because I'm getting out before they strike," Gwen explained. "You still want out? To escape?"

Number Six remained still and unmoving, as though the prospect of escape was meaningless to his mind now.

"After all, you tried hard enough yesterday."

"I wasn't thinking clearly at the time," he responded lifelessly. "And besides, what does it matter? The last time I got out...they brought me back... They'll always bring me back."

"Not with my help." Number Two took another small step towards him, determination in her face. "Together we can bring down the Village."

Number Six looked down for a moment, considering his options.

"I need your answer in seconds!" Gwen nearly pleaded.

"I'm aware."

"If you'd just-"

"Why do you need me?"

"Need you!?" She almost laughed. "I-I...I broke every rule for you!" Gwen declared... "You made me think differently, you made me feel guilty, you-" She fell silent and looked up, knowing that any second now their time would be up... "And now you're throwing away this chance?"

Number Six took a deep breath as he studied her features intently... Ever since he'd been a part of this world, ever since he'd been living in a world of subterfuge, he had survived on his instincts. He had survived, intact and whole (even against the powers that be in the Village) by analysing his options, looking for weakness' and exploiting them... But now there was no time for that. There wasn't even enough time to study his gut feeling. He had to act on his feelings now... He had to act on his feelings towards her now... Did he trust her? No. But then again, who did he trust?... Believing that he had little to lose in taking this chance, Number Six closed his eyes for a moment before speaking... "All right. I'll help you."

"What?" Number Two could hardly believe her ears.

"But I need details." He circled around her, his eyes looking towards the closed door, as though sensing a presence that was closing in.

"There's no time," Gwen said. "Number Five will help us. Just do as I say... I know it's difficult, but you'll just have to trust me."

"What do I have to do?"

"Just wait at-"

Suddenly, the lights in the room came back on...

Gwen fell silent, her mouth open awkwardly, not knowing what to say now that they were listening once more.

Playing the part of his usual, suspicious self, Number Six gestured towards the door. "Well, now that the powers back on, perhaps you can leave me alone in peace?" Number Six stated calmly.

Just then, the door to the room was flung open, and a man in a striped jumper stood in the doorway, the Village guardian looking confused and uneasy upon seeing the awkward looking Number Two and Number Six...

"Yes?" Number Two looked at the man. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Number Two?" the female doctor spoke up as she returned towards the room.

Stepping aside, the guardian left, allowing the doctor to step into the room.

The man leaving without answering her question confirmed Gwen's worst fears. Yes, she might still be Number Two, but already the disintegration of her authority had begun.

The doctor began to take a stab at explaining herself. "When the power went out and you didn't emerge from this room, I-"

"I...couldn't leave him alone!" Number Two snapped before glancing at Number Six for a moment. "We have surveillance measures for a reason, and without the power we were-"

"I understand," the doctor said suddenly, the look on her face suggesting that she didn't believe a word her superior was saying...

"Good." Number Two gave the slightest of smiles before walking towards the door. "Number Six is free to go."

"But the tests are-"

"They're not necessary for the moment." Number Two stepped outside the room before turning around.

The doctor began to protest. "But for the moment he needs rest and-"

"Exactly." Number Two nodded. "And he can have that at his home." On saying that last word, she gave Number Six an extremely small, knowing look.

Number Six narrowed his eyes slightly.

"The tests can wait for now."

"And that's an official order, Number Two?" The doctor didn't even turn to look at her when she said these words.

"Yes." Number Two confirmed, choosing to make the most of her power while she still had it. "We'll reschedule the tests and, when the time's right...contact him at his home." Once more, she looked directly at Number Six... "Be seeing you, Number Six." And with that, Gwen made her exit.

"Be seeing you," Number Six murmured to himself, his eyes lacking in focus.

Looking at Number Six with scorn in her eyes, the doctor gave him a thin smile. "I'll send for your clothes."

As the door to the room closed, Number Six sat back down on the bed, his brow furrowed, many different thoughts turning over in his mind... The start of a new game or the culmination of another?... Or perhaps this was the real thing. Only time would tell. For the moment he'd just have to wait... But at least he would face this challenge as himself. He knew only one thing for certain... Whatever they were going to throw at him...he would be ready.

(A/N). And so ends another chapter. As always, I'd love to hear from you so please don't forget to leave a review.

I can't promise when the next chapter will be up, but we are getting closer towards the end of the story now and I aim to have it completed by Christmas.

Until next time, take care.

Be seeing you!